Call of Duty: Shaping Modern Pop Culture

Call of Duty: A legendary franchise spanning over two decades, captivating gamers worldwide. Let's explore its chronological journey, from its humble beginnings to its modern-day dominance.

Table of Contents

• Call of Duty
• Call of Duty 2
• Call of Duty 3
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
• Call of Duty: World at War
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• Call of Duty: Ghosts
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• Call of Duty: Black Ops III
• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
• Call of Duty: WWII
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
• Call of Duty: Warzone
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty

Release Date: October 29, 2003 Developer: Infinity Ward

Launched in 2003, the original Call of Duty set the stage for the franchise's success. Featuring both single-player and multiplayer modes, it immersed players in the brutal realities of World War II. The single-player campaign unfolded across four distinct perspectives: American, British, Soviet, and Allied, offering diverse missions based on historical events. From tense night battles to daring seaborne sabotage, the game's 26 missions provided a gripping experience. Multiplayer focused on objective-based gameplay, laying the groundwork for future iterations.

Call of Duty 2

Release Date: October 25, 2005 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Building upon its predecessor, Call of Duty 2 remained faithful to the World War II setting. Key improvements included automatic health regeneration when in cover, enhancing gameplay flow. The game retained the multiple campaign structure, offering engaging missions based on real historical events. Multiplayer largely mirrored the first game, providing a familiar yet refined experience. A concluding documentary provided historical context, adding depth to the overall experience.

Call of Duty 3

Release Date: November 7, 2006 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Xbox

Call of Duty 3, an Xbox exclusive, marked a shift. While retaining the World War II theme, it presented a unified storyline rather than separate campaigns. New actions, like rowing a boat, were introduced, alongside split-screen multiplayer. Technically advanced, it showcased improved animation, lighting, and overall visuals. The inclusion of civilians (though non-interactive) and the absence of handguns were notable departures.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Release Date: November 5, 2007 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare revolutionized the series by shifting the setting to the modern era. Set in 2011, the game presented an alternate reality where players fought to prevent a nuclear catastrophe. Two campaigns—American and British—offered diverse gameplay experiences. New features included Arcade Mode and cheat codes, adding replayability. The introduction of classes in multiplayer significantly altered the gameplay dynamic.

Call of Duty: World at War

Release Date: November 11, 2008 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A return to World War II, Call of Duty: World at War, featured American and Soviet campaigns. While graphically enhanced, the core gameplay remained largely unchanged from previous WWII titles. However, the introduction of a Nazi zombie horde mode proved hugely popular, becoming a staple of future installments. Other innovations included enemy dismemberment, the flamethrower, and enhanced character customization.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Release Date: November 10, 2009 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A direct sequel to Modern Warfare, this title continued the series’ modern warfare storyline set in 2016. The single-player campaign introduced new actions such as climbing and underwater movement. Multiplayer enhancements included dual-wielding pistols, new game modes, a refined perk system, and the ability to call in artillery and airstrikes. The game's success solidified the Modern Warfare sub-series' popularity.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Release Date: November 9, 2010 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

Call of Duty: Black Ops marked the beginning of a new sub-series, set in the Cold War era. Players took on the role of a CIA agent, engaging in dangerous missions to prevent global catastrophe. The single-player campaign offered a fresh narrative while retaining familiar gameplay mechanics. New additions included in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, and a wagering game mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Release Date: November 8, 2011 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Modern Warfare 3 directly followed the events of its predecessor. Maintaining the core gameplay, it focused on refinements and enhancements to graphics and sound. Its incredibly successful launch set a new record for the entertainment industry.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Release Date: November 13, 2012 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

The sequel to Black Ops featured a unique dual-timeline campaign, spanning 1980s and 2020s. Improvements included player choices impacting the storyline, multiple endings, pre-battle equipment selection, and enhanced AI.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Release Date: November 5, 2013 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Call of Duty: Ghosts introduced a new protagonist and storyline, expanding the setting beyond Earth to include space combat and alien encounters. Character customization, destructible environments, and a revised perk system were among the key changes.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Release Date: November 4, 2014 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

Set in a technologically advanced future, Advanced Warfare featured exoskeletons, drones, and other futuristic weaponry. Vertical gameplay and a new alien-fighting mode were also included.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Release Date: November 6, 2015 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

Black Ops III continued the Black Ops storyline, featuring cybernetic enhancements, jetpacks, wall-running, and underwater combat.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Infinite Warfare was a standalone title set in space, focusing on resource acquisition and exploration on Mars. Multiplayer introduced customizable exoskeletons.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Raven Software Download: Steam

A remaster of the original Modern Warfare, this version focused on updated visuals, audio, and animations while preserving the original gameplay.

Call of Duty: WWII

Release Date: November 3, 2017 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

A return to the World War II setting, WWII featured a revamped campaign with "heroic actions," medkits, and allied NPC assistance. Multiplayer included new modes, larger lobbies, and specialized classes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Release Date: October 12, 2018 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

Black Ops 4 featured standalone Specialist missions in lieu of a traditional campaign. Multiplayer included increased player health, a new "fog of war" system, and a 100-player battle royale mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

Release Date: October 25, 2019 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A reboot of the Modern Warfare series, this title presented a new storyline focusing on contemporary terrorism. The game featured controversial content and gameplay changes, including increased weapon recoil, bipods, and a revised Killstreaks system.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Release Date: March 10, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Warzone was a standalone battle royale title with classic battle royale, Rebirth (respawn), and Plunder (money collection) modes. It featured a "downed" state and the Gulag one-on-one combat arena.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Release Date: March 31, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: callofduty.com

A remaster of Modern Warfare 2, featuring updated visuals, audio, and animations.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Release Date: November 13, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Set in the early 1980s, Black Ops Cold War featured a single-player campaign spanning various global locations. The zombies mode received significant updates.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Release Date: November 5, 2021 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

Another World War II entry, Vanguard featured a multi-perspective campaign and a record-breaking 20 multiplayer maps.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

Release Date: November 16, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Warzone 2.0, integrated with Modern Warfare II, introduced ammo sharing, an updated Gulag, and a new DMZ mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

Release Date: October 28, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A direct sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare, focusing on the fight against terrorism and drug cartels. It featured wall breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and a refined progression system.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Release Date: November 2, 2023 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

The third installment in the rebooted Modern Warfare trilogy, combining elements from its predecessors with a focus on combat-intensive missions and a record 24 multiplayer maps. A new "Slaughter" mode was also introduced.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Release Date: October 25, 2024 Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software Download: Steam

A sequel to Black Ops Cold War, set in the 1990s during the Persian Gulf War. This installment reintroduced significant gameplay changes, including climbing, sliding, and a smart movement system. The zombies mode was also revamped.

The enduring appeal of Call of Duty lies in its consistent balance of challenge, realism, and player interaction. For over two decades, the series has successfully refined its mechanics while introducing innovative elements, solidifying its place as a leading first-person shooter franchise.